Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

Legend and sophistication – these two hallmark characteristics of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren stand out immediately, and are the essence of the scintillating styling radiated by the new high-performance sports car, which is due to make its world debut in autumn 2003.

Legend and sophistication – this is the precept underpinning the Gran Turismo body design, as it takes the classical styling elements from the legendary SLR racing cars of the 1950s and blends them masterfully with the sophisticated, avantgarde design language of both the latest Mercedes passenger car models and of the modern-day Silver Arrows race cars which took the McLaren Mercedes team to Formula One World Championship glory. The design's concept therefore spans the divide between past and present, whilst at the same time showing the way forward for the sports car designs of tomorrow.

The new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren bears witness to the tremendous expertise of Mercedes-Benz and of its Formula One ally, McLaren, when it comes to the development, design and manufacture of high-performance sports cars. Know-how and knowledge are blended into a harmonious whole, resulting not only in pioneering new features, stunning power development and sensational on-road performance, but also in extremely high levels of safety and suitability for day-to-day use.

Such a thorough grounding has given rise to a vehicle blessed with inimitable charisma, where legend and sophistication melt together in a thoroughly masterful Mercedes synthesis.

Twin-headlamp face, plus styling touches from the Silver Arrows Formula One car

It's the long, sweeping lines of the bonnet, the succinctly styled air gills in the wings, the eye-catching sidepipes, the compact tail and, last but by no means least, the gullwing doors which breathe life into the SLR legend. These design features first caused a sensation back in 1952, and have remained the hallmark of thoroughbred Mercedes sports cars ever since.

These and other styling elements rooted in the SLR tradition are harmonised smoothly with the latest Mercedes design traits: these include the distinctive "twin-headlamp face", which has been blazing a trail since it first appeared in 1995, and the fascinating interplay of soft contours and taut lines, a characteristic which runs through many of the models in the current Mercedes portfolio.

The bodystyling of the SLR is also modelled on the McLaren Mercedes Silver Arrows. The arrow-shaped nose, which encompasses the Mercedes star at the front and gives the bumper as a whole a bolder, more powerful look, stems from the championship-winning Formula One car, as does the twin-fin spoiler in the front bumper. Again, this is more than just an identifying design feature, as it is also crucial to the vehicle's aerodynamics and engine cooling.

Seen from the side, the eye is immediately caught by the flat, wedge-shaped form of the new high-performance supercar. This is created primarily by the long bonnet, the steeply raked front windscreen, the rearwards positioning of the passenger cockpit, the large wheels and the compact tail. Thanks to these proportions, the side profile lends further emphasis to the sense of forwards surge which courses through the new SLR.

The designers have incorporated a further SLR element in the form of the finned side air gills in the front wings, although they do far more than recall just the design of the legendary racing cars from 1955: today, as indeed back then, the side air outlets serve to ventilate the engine compartment. The designers have underlined their practical function by the use of sweeping lines which continue into the gullwing doors.

Unmistakable tail with exemplary aerodynamic qualities

The design of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren's tail end marks a breakaway from that of its legendary predecessor. Whereas the tail of the original racing cars sloped gradually downwards, the boot lid of the new Gran Turismo model continues straight backwards at the same high level. As well as increasing the luggage capacity, this also serves to reduce lift and aerodynamic drag, translating into enhanced roadholding ability. The new six-channel diffusor in the rear bumper also has an important role to play here.

An interior that fits like a glove and "Silver Arrow" leather in peerless quality

It is the very high levels of practicality and luxury that truly make the high-performance sportster's interior stand out. Individually padded bucket seats combine with a multifunction steering wheel with race-car-type buttons for manual gear selection and clearly arranged chronometer-style gauges to ensure that drivers can keep the SLR comfortably under control at all times, and that they have all the information they need conveniently at their fingertips.

High-grade materials set the interior tone: aluminium, carbon and supple "Silver Arrow" leather, which was specially developed for the new sports car and sets benchmark standards in terms of its quality and its material thickness.

Text and photos courtesy of DaimlerChrysler AG

TREE

The reason I'm called tree is because I'm good at painting trees.
Overtime I start to use a tree on the right hand corner as a
trademark
for all my watercolors painting.
I have dated 5 gals when I was in Pre-U.
There's one gal who I love a lot but never dare go after her.
She doesn't have a pretty face, doesn't have a good figure, doesn't
have
outstanding charm.
She is just a very ordinary gal.
I like her.
I really like her.
Like her innocent, like her frankness.
Like her cuteness, like her intelligence and her fragility.
Reason for not going after her is because I felt somebody so
ordinary
like her is not a good match for me.
I'm also afraid that after we are together all the good feelings
will
vanish.
I'm also afraid other's gossips will hurt her.
I felt that if she's my gal, she will be mine ultimately & I don't
have
to give up everything just for her.
The last reason, made her accompany me for 3 years.
She watch me chase after gals, and I have make her heart cry for 3
years.
She wants to be a good actress and I'm a very demanding director.
When I kissed my 2nd girlfriend, she bumped into us.
She was embarrassed but smile & say "Go on!" before running off.
The next day, her eyes was swollen like a walnut.
I purposely didn't want to think about what causes her to cry but
laugh
at her the whole day.
When everybody go back home, she was alone crying in the classroom.
She didn't know that I returned from soccer training to get
something.
I watch her cry for an hour or so.
My 4th girlfriend didn't like her.
There was once when both of them quarreled.
I know that based on her character she's not the type that will
start
off the quarrel.
But I still sided with my girlfriend.
I shouted at her and her eyes was filled shocked.
I didn't care about her feelings and walked off with my girlfriend.
The next day, she still laugh & joke with me like nothing has ever
happened.
I know that she's very hurt but she didn't know that my heart ache
is as
bad as hers.
When I broke up with my 5th girlfriend, I asked her out.
After going out for a day, I told her that I have something to tell
her.
She told me that coincidentally, she has something to tell me too.
I told her about my break up and she told me about her getting
together.
I know who is the guy.
He has been going after her for quite a while.
A very cute guy full of energy, lively and interesting.

His pursuit for her has been the talk of the school.
I can't show her my heart ache but could only smile & congratulate
her.
When I reach home, the heart ache is so strong that I can't stand
it.
It's like a heavy weighted stone on my chest.
I couldn't breath.
Wanted to shout but can't.
Tears rolled down & I broke down & cry.
How many times have I seen her cry for the man that doesn't
acknowledge
her presence too.
During graduation, I read a sms in my hp.
It was send 10 days ago when I broke down and cry.
I haven't read it since then.
It says

"Leaf departure is because of Wind pursuit. Or because Tree
didn't ask her to stay??"

LEAF

During Pre-U days, I like to collect leaves.
Why?
Because I felt that for a leaf to leave the tree she has been
relying on
for so long it takes a lot of courage.
During the 3 years of Pre-U I was on very close terms with a guy.
Not BGR kind but as buddy kind.
But when he had his 1st girlfriend, I learnt a feeling I never should
have learnt - Jealousy.
The sourness in the heart can't be describe by using a lemon.
It's like 100 rotten sour lemon.
Sourness to the extreme limit.
They were only together for 2 mths.
When they broke up, I hide my strong sense of happiness.
But after a mth, he got together with another gal.
I like him & I know he like me.
But why won't he pursue me?
Since he love me why he doesn't want to make the first move?
Whenever he had a new girlfriend, my heart would hurt.
Time after time, my heart was hurt.
I begin to suspect that this is a one sided love.
If he don't like he, why does he treat me so well.
It's beyond what you will normally do for a friend.
Liking a person is very heart wrenching.
I can know his likes, his habits.
But his feelings towards me I can never figure out.
You can't expect me a gal to ask him right?
Despite that, I still want to be by his side.
Care for him, accompany him, love him.
Hoping that one fine day, he will come & love me.
It's like waiting for his phone call every night, wanting him to
send me sms.
I know that no matter how busy he is, he will make time for me.
Because of this, I waited for him.
The 3 years were the hardest to go through & I really want to give up.
Sometimes, I wonder should I continue waiting.
The pain and hurt, the dilemma accompany me for 3 years.
Till the end of my 3rd year, a 2nd year junior begins to go after me.
Everyday he pursuit me relentlessly.

From outright rejection to a point in time when I felt that I'm willing
to let him have a small footing in my heart.
He's like a warm & gentle wind, trying to blow a leaf away from the tree.
In the end, I realized that I didn't want to give this wind a small footing in my heart.
I know this wind will bring this badly battered leave far away & better land.
Finally I left tree, but the tree only smile & didn't ask me to stay.
Leaf departure is because of Wind pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay??